Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-23
NIGHT HAWKS
Men Who Work Under
Cover Of Darkness.
THE TRIALS OF POLICEMEN.
How Reporters Pass the Night
Hours and Other People
y Make Money.
NIGHT HAWKS
THE TRIALS OF POLICEMEN

IL hdS oltcIl DeeH Sdlu tIldt OlC-lldl
the world never knows what the othe
portion is doing. This is strictly trut
as regards the knowledge displayed by
the generality OF persons concernin,
the movements of people whose differ
ent vocations, unfortunately compe
them to labor under the shade of dark
ness. 1t is well known to medica
science that to be possessed of free and
perfect health it is essential that
human being should have at least
eight hours sleep by night, when all is
quiet and calm around, and when nc
molesting sounds fall upon the eve.
ming stiffness thus constantly disturb
ing the quietness of slumber. Never
theless fate has ordained it otherwise
and from the largest city to the small
est hamlet in the world, a proportion
of the inhabitants have to labor
by night in order to furn-
ish their fellows with either
the pleasures or necessaries
of life. In the metropolitan cities the
principal streets at night are more or
less crowded with what are called
"night hawks" Constantly can be
seen groups of people standing in Sc
questered hooks, either conversing or
about to move on in the direction of
some familiar saloon sign which looms
up in the distance. Nearly all pre-
meditated robberies, burglaries or
murders are committed at night, and
schemes that will not bear the light of
day are concOcted under the gloom of
darkness. Consequently it becomes
necessary that the finest and most
clean pieces OF detective work are
planned and oftentimes executed in
the dark.
THE POLICEMEN.
In this city there are two officers of
the regular police force whose ex-
press duty it is to prowl around the
haunts OF thieves after nightfall
dressed usually in the guise of tramps.
By this means they ingratiate them
selves into the affections of the petty
criminal and usually without much
difficulty secure from them the
secrets of their exploits, or the
details Of some newly-planned
burglary. In this city there
are a number Of "fences" maintained
strictly against the provisions of law,
where the petty thief easily disposes
of his plunder. Besides the proprie-
tor of the "fence" being equally liable
with the criminal for receiving stolen
property, he is bound for self-protec-
ton not to divulge the secrets of his
nefarious trade. A close relationship
exists between the "fence" and the
criminal, and so close is the partner
ship that it takes prison wall to cut
asunder the ties thus formed. Often
times, however, the specially detailed
detective" by perseverance aided by
his clever disguise manages to un-
earth these dens and to discover a
link in the chain of evidence which |
finally lands the keeper within the |
narrow limits of dungeon. Crimi- |
nails hardly ever are to be seen around |
the streets in the daytime. They
usually while away the hours in bed |
and when evening presents itself they
wend their way to some of the all
night coffee houses where they usual
ly secure their meals. Here they
IN ct, and believing themselves alone
in brick room, they discuss the ar
for the commission of
some offense. They often are
mistaken however, as they
afterwards learn to their sorrow, that
a detective" is buried in the cellar,
to their entire conversation.
BY this means many clues are secured,
which, when closely followed, lead to
the capture of criminals for the COM
of offenses which otherwise
would not perhaps have been OBJ
tanned.
NEWSPAPER NIGHT HAWKS.
The labors of the newspaper men
which Includes reporters, pressmen,
and carriers, numbering
several hundred in this town, also ex-
tend into the small hours OF the morn
ing. The peacefully sleeping citizen re-
clining upon his comfortable couch at
night has not the slightest idea of the
and exposures the reporters
have to undergo in order to furnish
him with the means with which to
assist the digestion of his early meal.
Late and early, summer and winter
the newsgather ever faithful to his
trust is to be seen vending his way
throughout the town. Now he can be
observed jotting down piece of news
on street corner under a one candle
power street lamp and the next min
ute he is stunning down some dark alley
leading to a fire. At night the
senses are doubly acute, and
like the detective endeavoring to ferret
out crime, he is anxious to secure all
the news he can for his paper. There
is no darkness that he cannot pene-
trate no stairs SO rickety that he can
not climb, and no neighborhood so
dangerous or disreputable that he will
not enter. At the city prison each
paper has man remain until the
Journal goes to press, which is usually
at 8 A. NJ. Each arrest tlat is made
finds a place in his notebook, and the
slightest hint at anything bordering on
news does not escape his ever watch
full notice. Constantly throughout the |
night telephone calls are received at
the station for assistance, and invaria-
bly,, no matter what the distance may
be, the news gatherer anticipates the
officer, and oftentimes has secured the
details of the case before the blue
coated individual puts in an appear
ance, Very often the "story" is not
of the nature expected and OCCASION
ally its nature does not permit OF pub
lication. With feeling of disgust the
wends his way back to his
haunts, but to start off anew possibly |
on another wild goose chase. In this
city information concerning criminals
is to certain extent withheld by the
police, for reasons best known to
and the reporter has to
secure his information the best way
he can.
THE HACKMEN.